hattie gossett—poet, warrior woman, mother of spoken word, Harlem diva—needs support!
hattie has been living with stage 4 lung cancer for the past two years.
Although her medical treatment has been excellent, she hasn’t been able to work. Of course, we’re working with social services to provide the care she needs, but they always come up short.
Our community stepped into the gap when hattie’s apartment burned in 2018. And again, when she fell and needed extensive rehab in 2023. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
We’re, again, calling on all lovers of poetry, revolution, laughter, music, performance, community, Black women’s voices, and Black women’s power to help raise desperately needed funds for our sister hattie in her time of need.
Why it Matters (besides the obvious)
hattie is a generous, powerful, foremother whose artistic work over the decades cuts across multiple audiences and disciplines. As part of the Black Artistic DNA of New York City, hattie’s contributions run deep—as a co-founding editor of Essence Magazine and Kitchen Table Press. The Village Voice dubbed her “intellectual godmother of rap artists.”
barbara smith, audre lorde, cherríe moraga, and hattie
photo credit: Joan E. Biren (c) JEB
I also want to take a moment to talk about what hattie has meant to me personally. She is one of the soul sisters who shaped my understanding and helped me navigate the New York (and East Coast) political performance landscape during 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. I value the mid-20th century foundation of her afro-futuristic sight. AND she is one of the Dora Milaje warriors who re-captured my stolen 1960s Gibson guitar in a sting operation fit for the big screen! Hattie is our bad-ass warrior-woman-poet sister, cousin, mother, auntie, grandmother. For decades, the profound artistic critiques of this award-winning poet have given our world light and sanity in dark and crazy times. Now it’s time for us to spread light and sanity to her.
Please give what you can. No amount is too small. No amount is too large.
Donations $100.00 and over are tax-deductible!
Per hattie's direction, all funds collected here will be managed by Peter Hale, Committee on Poetry, Inc. who distributes them to her directly.
Help spread the word. It makes a difference! Please share this link with your community.
Significant tax-deductible donations (over $2500) can be made payable to:
Committee on Poetry, Inc.
PO Box 582
New York, NY 10009
212-358-9534
Attn: Peter Hale
Please write "hattie gossett fund" in the check memo
The Committee on Poetry, Inc (501-C3) is a wonderful organization that is helping by receiving these funds for hattie.